Showing Results for "sear"

See Also:

• a variation of sere.

sear

¹ American  

[seer] / sɪər /

verb (used with object)

sears, present (3rd person singular) seared, past participle, past searing present participle

1. to burn or char the surface of.

   She seared the steak to seal in the juices.

2. to mark with a branding iron.

3. to burn or scorch injuriously or painfully.

   He seared his hand on a hot steam pipe.

4. to harden or scar emotionally.

   The traumatic experiences of her youth have permanently seared her.

5. to dry up or wither; parch.

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verb (used without object)

sears, present (3rd person singular) seared, past participle, past searing present participle

1. to become dry or withered, as vegetation.

noun

1. a mark or scar made by searing.

adjective

1. sere.

sear ² American  

[seer] / sɪər /

noun

1. a pivoted piece that holds the hammer at full cock or half cock in the firing mechanism of small arms.

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sear ¹ British  

/ sɪə /

verb

1. to scorch or burn the surface of

2. to brand with a hot iron

3. to cause to wither or dry up

4. rare to make callous or unfeeling

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noun

1. a mark caused by searing

adjective

1. poetic dried up

sear ² British  

/ sɪə /

noun

1. the catch in the lock of a small firearm that holds the hammer or firing pin cocked

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Synonym Usage

See burn ¹.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unseared
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have seared
  perfect
• has seared
  perfect 3rd person singular
• are searing
  progressive
• searing
  participle
• am searing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been searing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• sears
  singular 3rd person
• have been searing
  perfect progressive
• is searing
  progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had seared
  perfect
• was searing
  progressive singular
• were searing
  progressive plural
• seared
  simple
• seared
  participle
• had been searing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will sear
  simple
• will have seared
  perfect
• will be searing
  progressive
• will have been searing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of sear¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English adjective ser(e), Old English sēar; cognate with Dutch zoor; the verb is derivative of the adjective

Origin of sear²

First recorded in 1550–60; from Middle French serre “a grip,” derivative of serrer “to lock up, close,” ultimately from Late Latin serāre “to bar (a door)”

Explanation

To sear something is to quickly cook or burn its surface by applying intense heat. When making beef stew, the color and flavor are usually better if you sear the meat first. Sear comes from the Old English word searian which meant “dry up” or “wither.” Typically, the verb sear now refers to burning or scorching something with heat, but if you see the phrase “wind-seared,” it means that a place — or something left in that place — has been withered by exposure to the elements. An unpleasant image can be seared into your memory, meaning you can't forget it.

Example Sentences

Lord Sear, a DJ and hip-hop radio personality who toured with Eminem and worked on his Shade 45 channel, has died.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2026

Sear the thighs skin-side down in a wide skillet until the fat renders and the skin turns deeply golden, verging on bronze.

From Salon • Feb. 24, 2026

“It’s a valuable paper because they look at reproductive physiology, which is not easy,” says human behavioral ecologist Rebecca Sear of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 25, 2023

Sear helped England internationals Tammy Beaumont, Lydia Greenway and Charlotte Edwards forge their careers, and MacDonald-Gay recalls fondly providing guards of honour for, and receiving her junior caps from, the latter pair.

From BBC • Aug. 8, 2023

These soveraign leaves thou left'st us are become Sear clothes against all Times infection.

From The Lucasta Poems by Lovelace, Richard

Related Words

• blight
• scorch
• sizzle
• toast